Centrifugal speed control for fire escapes



July 27 ,1926. 1,593,704

- L. E. MORRIS CENTRIFUGAL SPEED CONTROL FOR FIRE ESCAPES Filed April 6. 1925 l0 @waaii Patented July 27, 1926.

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LON'NIE E. REGRETS, OF SANTA. ANA, CliLIFGBNIA.

CENTBIFUGAL SPEED GGNTROL FOR FIRE E$CAPE$.

Application filed April 6, 1925. Serial No. 21,973.

This invention relates to an improved ole vice which may be briefly designated as a safety contrivance, and it has particular reference to a device ofthis class which is employed as a fire escape, or as a means for lowering a person to a point of safety from a comparatively high elevation on a building, the device being adaptable for both internal and external use.

Briefly, the invention comprises a drum which is rotatably mounted in appropriate bearings, these bearings being in turn mounted on means adapted to attach them to a relatively stationary part of the building. A cable is wound on this drum and the cable is connected to an appropriate carrier in which the occupant is held. Novel means is associated with the drum and hearings to automatically produce a braking action upon the drum to automatically govern the downward movement of the carrier.

Material novelty resides in the especially constructed automatically operable braking device which is the same in operation regardless of the weight of the occupant of said carrier.

The invention, of course, embodies other features and advantages, and these will be come apparent from the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

The figure represents a safety contrivance constructed in accordance with the present invention showing certain of the details in section to illustrate the details more clearly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 1 designates an attaching plate or the like, which is intended to be secured to an appropriate place on a building. Detachablv fastened to the under side of this plate and depending: therefrom is one 45 part 2 of a sectional hearing. The complemental cap 3 of the bearing is bolted thereto in a customary way. At the opposite end of the plate is another bearing 1, but this is an especially constructed bearing. The same embodies a discular plate 5, and this plate is provided in its face with a substantially V-shaped annular channel. The plate is also equipped with a marginal flange 7, and this flange serves to permit an appropriately shaped housing 8 to be bolted or otherwise connected thereto. Disposed within this housing is a longitudinally shiftable disc 9 provided on one face with a V-shaped rib 1O fitting into the channel 6. If desired, this rib may be surfacedwith suitable'braking material. It is adapted to be pressed to operative position by a pair of duplicate levers 11 pivoted between their ends on brackets 12 inside of the casing. I

Mounted for rotation between the bearings is a spool or drum 13. Preferably, the surface of this drum is formed with grooves 1a in which a cable 15 is confined, the cable being wound upon the drum between the end flanges of the latter. It will be observed that the drum is provided on its right hand end with a relatively short journal, and that this journal is rotatably mounted in the bearing'2, the same having a circular head 16 on its free end. The opposite journal 17 is of tubular formation and is recipient of a bushing 18 through which a pointed end 19 of a sliding pin 20 passes. It will be observed that the pointed end of the pin is rotated between the inner opposed ends of the aforesaid levers, and it is obvious that by exerting a longitudinal thrust upon this pin, the levers will be rocked upon their pivots to move the brake disc 9 to operative position. If desired, the hub of the drum may be hollowed out as at 21 to form a lubricant chamber.

Novel means is employed for exerting the desired end thrust upon the pin, and this means preferably comprises a pair of duplicate brackets 22 upon the outer ends of which ball governor weights 23 are mounted. Particular note should be given to the inner cooperating end of the arms of these governor weights. These inner ends are constructed as shown to provide an interlocking joint, and the adjacent end of the sliding pin 20 is located between the brackets 22 to be operated upon by this interlockconnection. It is yet to be pointed out that a desirable type of carrier 26 such as a hasket or the like is to be employed, and this is provided with a flexible bail 27 to which the lower end of the rib or cable is connected. This basket must be of a size and strength to sustain the occupant.

The operation of the device is as follows:' Assuming that the carrier 26 is loaded with a weight, it will be seen that it will descend, and in so doing will unwind the cable from the drum. The rotating of the drum will naturally set the centrifugal governor into operation and inasmuch as the governor arms cooperate with and press against one end of the sliding pin, it will be seen that this pin Will be moved longitudinally if an excessive speed of rotation of the drum is brought about. lVhen the weights fly outwardly, the inner interlocked ends are pressed inwardly, and thus exert an endwise thrust upon the pin 20. The pointed end 19 of the latter now is pressed between the opposed ends of the levers 11, and inasmuch as these are rocked upon their pivots, the brake disc 9 is forced against the relatively stationary plate 5 to produce the desired braking action, and to retard the speed.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates to obtain a clear understanding of the same. For this reason a more lengthy description is deemed unnecessary,

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A brake of the class described comprising a stationary plate provided in its outer face with an annular channel, a movable brake disc, an annular rib formed on the inner face of the disc and adapted for cooperation with the aforementioned annular channel, ahousing for the plate and the disc, a pair of opposed levers arranged in the housing and pivoted intermediate their ends, the inner opposed ends of said levers being spaced apart, the opposite outer ends thereof bearing against said disc, and means cooperating with the inner opposed ends of the levers for effecting the inward movement of the disc whereby said rib is moved into engagement with the annular channel, said last mentioned means comprising a longitudinally slidable thrust pin having one end cooperating with the inner opposed ends of said levers, and a centrifugal governor cooperating with the other end of the thrust pin for actuating the same.

2. A brake of the class described comprising a stationary plate provided in its outer face with an annular channel, a movable brake disc, an annular rib formed on the inner face of the disc and adapted for cooperation with the aforementioned annular channel, a housing for the plate and the disc, a pair of opposed levers arranged in the housing and pivoted intermediate their ends, the inner opposed ends of said levers being spaced apart, the opposite outer ends thereof bearing against said disc, means cooperating with the inner opposed ends of the levers for efl ecting the inward movement of the disc whereby said rib is moved into engagement with the annular channel, said last mentioned means comprising a 1ongitudinally slidable thrust pin having one end cooperating with the inner opposed ends of said levers, a centrifugal governor cooperating with the other end of the thrust pin for actuating the same, said centrifugal governor including a pair of diametrically opposed pivotally mounted arms, Weights associated with the outer ends of said arms, the inner ends of the arms being arranged in overlapping relation and in engagement with the outer end of the thrust pin.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LON. E. MORRIS. 

